Automatic kape-tback timing



M 1927' c. E. MENTZER AUTOMATIC RACE TRACK TIMING DEVICE Filed May 24,1926 I I PM CMWE {EA 1 722; 277; WW

Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE E. MENTZER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T6) ARTHURB.

' COREY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC RAQE-TRACK TIMING DEVICE.

Application filed. May 24, 1926. Serial 170. 111,253..

The principal object of this invention is automatically stop a timewatch at race matic race track timing tracks and the like.

A further object is to provide an autodevice which will not be affecteduntil the last lap of the race.

A further object is to provide a timing device which may be controlledeither by a storage battery or electric line wire carrying voltage. Astill further object is to provide an electric controlled timing devicewhich may have its circuit completed or closed by a switch actuated byforce of air caused by the swiftest participant in the race crossing aresilient tube.

A still further object is to provide an automatic race track timingdevice that may easily be moved from one track to another.-

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more i fully set forth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my complete device ready for use.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the box or housing of the device with the lidin open position showing the operating mechanism and wiring.

Fig. 3 is a side-view of the box or housing of the device with the lidin open position. Sections of the box are cut away to more fullyillustrate the same. This view also shows a stop watch resting in properposition in the box.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one corner of the box showing'a stop watchresting in proper position in the same and switch plug for closing thecircuit when a switch is secured to it and actuated.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional View of my novel switch for closing thecircuit and the means for actuating the same.

The present method "of timing a race is by a stop watch held in the handof the timekeeper. This method is more or less inaccurate and alwaysleaves a question as to the exact time in the minds of many. My

provide a device which will start and device-is automatic and thereforeaccurate and can not be questioned. It relates particularly toautomobile races, horse-drawn Vehicle races and races of like character.

I have dwignated the box or housing of my device by the numeral 10. Aportion of the top surface of this box forms a lid 11 secured to the boxby the hinge 12. At the end of this lid opposite the hinged end and onthe under side are secured two pairs 01 hearing members 13 and 14,spaced apart as shown in Fig. 2. Slidably mounted in each pair ofbearing members is a rod 15 and 16. Secured by suitable means to theforward end of each of these rods is the bar 17. Secured to this bar andbetween the rods 15 and 16 is the U-shaped member 18. In the top portionof the box which does, not form the lid, are three depressions 19, 20,and 21 and each of which has an opening communieating with the inside ofthe box. These depressions are each designed to hold a stop watch 22. Itwill be noted in Fig. 3 and Fig. 1 that the stem and control pin 23 ofeach watch extends into its respective opening and adjacent the bar 17.Screwed into the bar 17, and each capable of striking a control pin of awatch, when the bar is moved forwardly, are the tappets 24:, 25, and 26.By being screwed into the bar member they may thereby be easily adjustedto properly engage the control pins of the watches. A lock nut 27 isprovided for each tappet to secure the same from accidental rotation. Acoil spring 28 is secured to each rod 15 and 16 to yieldingly hold thebar 17 in a rearward position. Near the center and on the under side ofthe lid is rotatably secured acage member 29 embracing and attached toone end of the main spring 30. Secured to the other end of the mainspring and extending through the lid is the winding key 31. A ratchetmember not shown limits the rotation of this winding key to onedirection. The numeral 32 designates a link eccentrically and pivotallysecured at one end to the cage 29. In the other end of the link is aslot 33 engaging a rivet 34: on the member 18. By this construction whenthe cage is rotated the bar 17 will be actuated backwardly and forat oneend to the lid and capable of having its other end engage the shoulder35 and nected to this metal tube is the lead wire 54 hold the ca eagainst rotation is the detent 36. The 0011 spring 37 yieldingly holdsthis end in engagement with the shoulder 35. The member 38 when turnedby the oil and on lever 39 to on position will hold the arm fromengaging the shoulder 35.

Secured to the under side of the lid as shown in Fig. 2 are the bearingmembers 40 and 41. Slidably mounted in these hearing members and sopositioned that one end .is capable of engaging the shoulder 35 is therod 42. This rod is yieldingly held so as to engage this shoulder by thecoil spring 43. livotally secured near its center to the under side ofthe lid and having one end engaging a notch in the rod 42 is thearmature lever 4A. Adjacent the other end portion of the lever andsecured to the lid are the solenoid coils 45, which when energized byan'electric current will draw the portion of the lever adjacent them tothem. This action will cause the rod 42 to be moved rearwardly and outof engagement with the shoulder 35, the purpose of which willhereinafter be explained.

I have provided two methods of energizing these coils, i. e., electricline wire voltage andbatteries. The numeral 46 designates a socket intowhich is designed to be plugged batter terminals. This socket has onewire a, lea in direct to one of the poles of the coils and lts otherwire 7) leading to the other pole of the coil, but with the switchsocket 47 interposed. The numeral 18 designates a socket into which isdesigned to be plugged the terminals of an electric line wire. Thevoltage of these line wires is usually 110 volts. To use this voltage Iprovide the transformer 49 as shown in Fig. 2. One of the wires 0, leadsdirectly from the trans- I former to one of the soles of the coils,while the other wire d, lea s to the other pole of the coils, but withthe switch socket 47 interposed.

It will readily be seen that if a switch member is plugged into-theswitch socket 47 the coils may be energized at will by operating theswitch.

In order that the coils may be energized wlthout going through theswitch socket 47 a line wire g, is provided which directly connects thewires 6, and d, to the pole of the coils, but with the switch button 50interposed. By this arrangement, if it is desired to energize the coilswithout going through the switch socket t7, the switch button 50 ispressed downwardly.

The numeral 51 designates a resilient tube having one end closed bysuitable means and which is desi ed to be placed across the race track.11 the other end of this tube is my novel switch comprising a metal tube52 extending outwardly and upwardly and held in this position by thefeet 53. Contube is the leaf member 57. It is prevented from contactwith the metal tube by the strip of insulation 58. The numeral 59designates a metal ball in the metal tube and capable of engaging theleaf member 57 and the metal tube when forced upwardly in the metaltube. The numeral 60 designates an air port in the top portion of themetal tube.

The practical operation of the complete device is as follows:

Lay the resilient tube and switch member across the race track and pluginto the switch socket 4:7 in the box as shown in Fig. 1. Plug eitherbattery or electric line connections 61 into their respective socket inthe box and the device is ready for use. The lever 39 should be on on.Press downwardly on the switch button and the coils will be energizedand will pull the rod 42 upwardly. This will allow the cage 29 torevolve and the bar 17 will strike the control pins of the stopwatchesand set the same at zero. lVhen it is desired that the bar shouldstrike the control pins once only, the lever 39' is first turned to onand then to off before the coils are energized. By this operation thedetent arm 36 is in position to engage the shoulder 35 after the cagemember has made one revolution. If this feature were not provided thecoils might remain energized long enough for the cage to make more thanone revolution, the disadvantage of which will be readily appreciated.As the wheels of the vehicle or vehicles entering the race strike theresilient tube, the

strike the control pins of the watches and start the same. In cases'where the participants in the race make several laps the switchterminals are removed from the switch socket 47 so that the watches willnot be stopped at the first lap. As the participants near the line onthe last lap the terminals are replaced and the lever 39 first placed onon and then on off. The first wheel or foot that strikes the resilienttube will stop the watches. To prevent the metal ball from entering theresilient tube a shoulder 62 is provided in the member 52.

To facilitate the openin of the lid ahandle member 63 is provided. Bybuilding all T the mechanism on the underside of the lid, the same mayeasily and readily be gotten The hole in the upper end of the member 52allows the air to escape as the metal ball is forced upwardly.

The slot 33 allows the cage 29 to turn a part of a revolution before thebar 17 is moved. This allows the tappets to strike the control pins ofthe watches without so much force.

I provide three stop watches so that there can be no question as totheir accuracy.

Some changes may be made in construction and arrangement of my improvedautomatic race track timing device without departing from the realspirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a housing, a stop watch mountedin said housing, a member slidably mounted in said housing and capableof striking the control pin of said watch, a spring capable of actuatingsaid member, a catch member for preventing said spring from actuatingsaid slidably mounted member, and a means for releasing said catchmember.

2. In a device of the class described, a housing, a stop watch mountedin said housing, a member slidably mounted in said housing and capableof striking the control pin of said watch, a cage member rotatablymounted in said housing, a main spring mounted in said cage and havingone end attached to said cage and its other end to a winding pin, meansof operatively connecting said slidably mounted member to said cage, ashoulder on said cage, a catch member designed to yieldingly engage saidshoulder, and a means of holding said catch. member from engagement withsaid shoulder.

8. In a device of the class described. a housing, a stop watch mountedin said housing, a member slidably mounted in said housing and capableof striking the control pin of said watch, a cage member rotatablymounted in said housing, a main spring mounted in said cage and havingone end attached to said cage and its other end to a winding pin, a linkconnecting said slidably mounted member to said cage, a shoulder on saidcage, a plunger capable of engaging said shoulder, a spring foryieldingly holding said plunger in engagement with said shoulder, andelectrically actuated mechanism for disengaging said plunger from saidshoulder.

4. In a device of the class described, a

housing, a stop watch mounted in said housing, electrically controlledmechanism capable of starting and stopping said watch when its circuitis closed, a resilient tube closed at one end and designed to lie acrossthe race track, a metal tube secured to the other end of said resilienttube extending outwardly and upwardly, feet for holding it .in thisposition, contact points in said metal tube, wires leading from saidcontact points to said electrically controlled mecha nism, and a metalball in said metal tube capable of being forced by air when theresilient tube is flattened into contact with said contact points andthereby closing the electric circuit of the device.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing, a stop watch mountedin said housing, a member slidably mounted in said housing, and capableof striking the con trol pin of said watch, a cage member rotatablymounted in said housing, a main spring mounted in said cage and havingone end attached to said cage and its other end to a winding pin, a linkhaving one end connected to said slidably mounted memher and its otherend rotatably and eccentrically secured to said cage, a shoulder on saidcage, a catch member designed to yieldingly engage said shoulder, ameans for holding said catch member from enga ement with said shoulder,a plunger capa le of engaging said shoulder, electrically actuatedmechanism for disengaging said plunger from said shoulder, and a switchfor controlling said electrically actuated mechanism.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing, stop watches mountedin said housing, a member slidably mounted in said housing, and capableof striking the control pins of said watches, a cage member rotatablymounted in said housing, a spring mounted in said cage and having oneend attached to said cage and its other end to a winding pin, a linkoperatively connectmg said cage with said slidably mounted member, ashoulder on said cage, a catch member designed to yieldingly engage saidshoulder, a means for removing and holdin said catch from engagementfrom said shoulder, a plunger capable of engaging said shoulder, aspring for yieldingly holding said plunger in engagement with saidshoulder, electrically actuated mechanism for removing said plunger fromengagement with said shoulder when its circuit closed, a push-buttonswitch for closing said circuit, and a switch actuated by theparticipant or participants in the race for-closing said circuit, forthe purposes stated.

CLAUDE E. MENTZER.

